SCIENCE PRACTICAL TIPS

ASPECT OF PRACTICAL AREAS

Physics 1. Apparatus and measuring tools
2. Density
3. Forces
4. Electrical energy
5. Light energy
6. Heat energy
7. Magnetic energy
Chemistry 1. Apparatus
2. Separation of mixtures
3. Acids and bases
4. Rusting of metals

Biology 1. Reproduction in plants and

animals
2. Dentition
3. Cell
4. Osmosis and diffusion
5. Ecosystem
6. Photosynthesis
Agriculture 1. Crop production
2. Farm tools
3. Soil
4. Animal production(partial in
syllabus)

Biology
1. a. identify each of the structures C,D and E illustrated above
b.name each of the parts labeled I, II,III,IV,V
c. state one function each of the parts labeled I,II,VI and VII
d. what is the relationship between the structures D and E?

ANSWER
a. C---stamen
D---fruit
E---seed
b. I---anther
II---filament
III---stalk
IV---sepal
V----fruit wall
VI-----micropyle
c. Icontains pollen grains
IIholds anther in position
V---protects seeds
VI--- water absorbed through during germination
VIIprotects embryo
d. D protects E

2. Study carefully shoot A and Bin the illustration below

 a) Identify each of the shoot A and B without reasons
b) Name each of the parts labeled I,II,III,IV ,V,VI,VII and VIII
c) State the level of organization of each of the parts labeled I and II
d) Give the functions of each of the parts labeled I,III,V,VI and VIII

a) Shoot A---Monocotyledon
Shoot B---dicotyledonous
b) Iinflorescence of male flower
IIinternode
IIIleaf sheath
IVinflorescence of female flower
V----axillary bud
VI----terminal bud
VII---leaf
VIII---leaf stalk or petiole
c) I---organ
 IIorgan
d) I for reproduction
IIIhold leaf blade to stem
Vdevelops into lateral shoots or flowers
VI---develops into flowers
VIII---holds the leaf in position

3.The diagram below is an illustration of longitudinal sections of a fruit. Study

the diagram carefully and answer the questions that follow.

a) Name one fruit which has its parts similar to the illustrated
b) Name the parts I,II,III and IV
c)
C) i. state the type of fruit illustrated

ii.support your answer with one reason

d) state the mode by which the fruit can be dispersed

ANSWER

a) mango or coconut or oil palm

 b) I---seed
II---epicarp or exocarp
III---mesocarp
IVEdocarp
c) i. drupe

ii.

1. presence of hard or stony endocarp

2. mesocarp is fleshy
d) Animal and water

4) study the experimental set-up below carefully and answer the questions that
follow.

a. State the aim of the experiment set-up

b. What observation is made in each of test A, B,C and D after 7days?
c. State the reason why the test tubes were not covered
d. What was the role of layer of oil in test tube C
e. State what could have been observed in each of the test tubes if cowpea
seeds were put in warm water for some minutes before they were used for
the experiment
f. State two precautions to be taken in the experiment.
 ANSWER

a) To demonstrate the conditions necessary for germination of a seed

b) Germination occurs in test tube A
No germination occurs in test tubes B,C and D
c) Test tubes were not covered in order to make oxygen available for the
seeds
d) To prevent oxygen or air from dissolving back into the water
e) There would be no germination in all the four test tubes
f) 1. Available seeds are used.

2. Seeds used be equal in number in all the four test tubes

3. All the four test tubes should have the same diameter

5. The diagram below shows the longitudinal section through a flower, use it
to answer the questions that follow.

a. Name the parts A to I

 b. State one function of the parts A, B,D and E
c. What is the term given to the following?
i) Transfer of content A onto A
ii) Union between the content A and F
iii) The transfer of content A to a different flower of the same or
closely related species
d. What is the general name for
i) A,F,G
ii) B and C
e. Mention three activities that can carry out the activities in c(i) and (iii)
above

ANSWER
a. Astigma
B. anther
Cfilament
Dpetal
Esepal
Fstyle
Govary
Hovule
IPedicel

b. stigma receives pollen grains during pollination

anther contain pollen grains

petals attracts insects for pollination

sepals protects the flower at the bud stage

c.iself pollination

ii fertilization
iii cross pollination
d i. carpel

ii stamen

e) Wind, water, animals, gravity and man

6.

a) Identify A, B, and C and describe the shape

b) Name the parts labeled I and II in A.
c) State the functions of A,B and C in relation to diet or food
d) Mention two diseases that affect the tooth

ANSWER

a) Apre-molar, molar; flattened with projections on their surface

Bincisor ; chisel shape
Ccanine ; conical or pointed
b) Icrown II- roots

c) pre-molar are used for tearing and grinding of food

incisor are used for cutting food

canines are used for tearing flesh

d)Gum disease and tooth decay

7. Study the diagram below carefully

a) Identify the parts labeled I,II,III,IV and V

b) State briefly the structural adaptation each of III, IV and V

ANSWER
a) I jaw bone or gum
IImolar
IIIpremolar
IVcanine
Vincisor

b) IIIthe crown has a large surface are for grinding and crushing food
Iv--- the crown is pointed and it is used for stabbing and tearing of flesh
 V----the crown is chisel-shaped and it is used for cutting, tearing and
holding of hold
8. Study the diagrams below and answer the questions that follow

a) Identify K and L
b) Name the parts labeled I to IV in K
c) Name parts labeled I to IV in L
d) State the function of I and III in K
e) State the function of parts labeled V and VI in L
f) State two difference between K and L
g) State two similarities between K and L

ANSWERS

a) K is animal cell L is plant cell

b) I---cell membrane
II---mitochondrion
IIInucleus
IV ---cytoplasm
c) I----nucleus
II---cellulose cell wall
III---mitochondrion
IVchloroplast
V---cytoplasm
VI--- vacuole
d) Cell membrane protects the internal structure of the cell
Nucleus controls the life activities of the cell
e) Cytoplasm gets rid of waste materials through the cell membrane
Vacuole stores food substances such as sugar for the cell
f) Differences
Plant cell Animal cell
Has cellulose cell wall Has no cellulose cell wall
Has chloroplasts Has no chloroplasts

g) Similarities
Plant cell Animal cell
Has nucleus Has nucleus
Has cytoplasm Has cytoplasm

9. The figure below represents the beginning of an experiment to

demonstrate osmosis in a living cell using yam tissue.
 a) Draw and label a diagram to illustrate what would be observe if the set -
up is allowed to stand for 24 hours
b) What does the yam represent?
c) Explain the principle involve in the experiment
d) How would you set-up a control of the experiment above?
e) Give one example the osmotic process in each of the following living
things
i) flowering plants
ii) humans

ANSWER
a)
b) A semi-permeable membrane
c) Water moves across the living yam by osmosis into the strong sugar
solution that has a high osmotic potential until equilibrium is reached when
the concentration of the diluted sugar solution and water are the same
d) A trough is filled with distilled water and a living yam cup is placed in it. The
yam is then filled with the distilled water used in filling the through. Since
the concentration on both sides of the yam are the same, there will be no
movement of water molecules
e) I) absorption of water into the root hair

ii)water absorption in the proximal convoluted tubule of a nephron

10. The set-up below shows air being breathed out through the mouth into
test-tube containing lime water.

a) Why does the lime water turn milky?

b) Identify the milky substance produced
c) Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction
d) Name two other substances present in breathed-out air
e) What is the aim of the experiment?

ANSWER
 a) Because of presence of carbon dioxide in the expired air
b) Calcium carbonate or
c)
d) Nitrogen, water vapour or water, rare gases,
e) To show that carbon dioxide is a by-product of respiration
11. The diagram below represents a scientific experiment. Study it and answer
the questions that follow.

a) What is the aim of experiment?

b) State each of steps in step 1, 2, and 4
c) Give the reason why the leaf is dip in boiled water
d) State reason for step 2
e) State the observation in the last step of the experiment (step 4)

ANSWER

a. To demonstrate that starch is a product of photosynthesis or test for starch

in a leaf
b. Step1. Boil a leaf in water

Step 2. Dip the in warm alcohol

 Step 3. Dip the leaf in boiling water

Step 4. Place the leaf on a white porcelain plate and pour few drops
solution on it

c. To kill living cells

d. To remove chlorophyll
e. The leaf will turn blue-black indicating presence of starch in the leaf.

12. A student performed test on food substances A, B and C and made the
following observations.
Food substance Test observation
A Few drops of iodine The iodine solution in
solution was added to turns blue-black
A
B A drop of B was applied A translucent patch was
to a white sheet of seen on the paper
paper
C Benedicts solution was Benedicts solution
added to C and the turns from blue to
mixture boiled brich-red

a) Identify food substances A, B and C

b) Give the products of digestion of A,B,and C
c) In which parts of the alimentary canal does the digestion of each of food
substances A, B, and C start?
d) In which part of the alimentary canal is food substance C absorbed after
digestion?

ANSWERS
a) Astarch
 Bfat and oil
Cglucose or reducing sugar

b) starch ---glucose or fructose

fat and oil----fatty acids or glycerol

glucose ---remains glucose

c) Starch mouth
Oil ----small intestine or duodenum
Glucose pass through the system

d) Glucose is absorbed in the small intestine.

PHYSICS

1. Study carefully the laboratory devices illustrated in the diagrams and use
them to answer the questions that follow.

a) Identify each of the devices A, B, C and D

b) i) state one use of each of the devices A,C and
ii)Describe how each of the devices C and D is use

ANSWER
a) Afunnel
BTripod stand
C---pipette
Da pair of tongs

b) i) A---for transferring liquid from one container into another

C---for drawing specific volume of liquids

D---to hold hot objects

ii) how device C is used

1. The pointer end of the device is immersed into the solution
2. The mouth is put at the blunt end and sucked from it
3. The liquid level is allowed to rise above the mark and the thumb used to
seal the end where the mouth was put
4. The thumb is partially removed to drain some solution
5. The thumb is completely removed and allows solution into appropriate
container.
How device D is used
a. The thumb is placed in one of the cavities/holes of the handle and
another finger placed in the other cavity
b. To open up the device
c. The open end is used to hold the (hot) object

2. The following diagrams are illustrations of laboratory apparatus

Study them carefully and answer the questions that follow.
 a) Identify each of the apparatus A,B and C
b) State one use each of the apparatus

ANSWER
a) A---Flat bottom flask
B---test tube holder
C---bunsen burner
b) A---for carrying out reactions or storing solution
B---for holding test tube during heating
C for heating substances
3. To determine the density of a piece of wood a cuboid of the wood was
used. The mass and volume of the cuboid were then determined. Figure a
shows the dimensions X, Y and Y of the cuboid while figure b shows the
cuboid on weighing scale with full reading of 1000g.
 a) i) measure and record the lengths x,y and z in centimetres

ii)calculate the volume of the cuboid

b) read and record the mass, m of the cuboid

c) calculate the density of the piece of wood in

ANSWER
a) i)x= 3.0cm; y= 4.0cm; z= 2.0cm

ii)volume =

b) mass of wood m = 120g

c) density of wood =

4. use the diagram below to answer the questions that follow

a) what would the observer see from the position shown?
b) What happens when cardboard B is shifted?
c) Explain the observation made (b) above
d) What would be observed when the cardboard B is brought back to its
original position?
e) What does the experiment demonstrate?
f) Mention two devices that devices that works on property of light
demonstrated
g) Mention two natural occurrences that could be explained by the
property of light demonstrated

ANSWER
a) The observer will see light or rays through the three holes
b) Light can no longer be seen through the holes
c) Light travels in straight line and because cardboard B is shifted out of
the straight line, the light is not seen again
d) The observer will again see light through the three holes
e) The experiment demonstrates that light travels in straight line
f) Pinhole camera, torch light and periscope
 g) Formation of shadows and eclipse

5. Study the simple circuit diagram shown below and answer the questions
that follow.

a) Identify the components labeled I,II,III, V and VI

b) Which of the component is used to close the circuit?
c) State the observation that will be made when the circuit is closed?
d) State the energy transformations that take place when the circuit is
closed
e) Give the name of the circuit connection between components IV and VI
f) What is the purpose of component V?

ANSWER
a) Icell or battery
II---key or switch
III---ammeter
IVbulb
V---rheostat or variable resistor
VIvoltmeter
b) II or switch or key
c) The lamp will light
 d) Chemical energyelectrical energy---light energy- heat energy
e) Parallel connection
f) The purpose of component V is to read the voltage across the bulb

6. The figure below shows the inside of 13A main plug

II

a) Which of parts labeled is the earth wire?

b) What colour is used to represent the earth wire?
c) Which of the part labeled is the neutral wire?
d) What colour is used to represent the neutral wire?
e) Which of the part labeled is live wire?
f) What colour is used to represent the live wire?
g) State the role of part labeled I
h) Identify parts II, III, IV, VI and VII

ANSWER
a) I represent earth wire
b) Green or yellow
c) VIII represents neutral wire
d) Blue
e) V represents live wire
f) Brown
g) The earth wire prevents an electrical shock
h) IIearth pin
III---fuse
IV---live pin
 VI--- cable grip
VII---neutral pin
7. In a experiment, a pupil took two empty milo tins and made holes in their
sides as shown in the diagram above. The pupil then filled the milo tins with
water

a) Draw and label the diagrams to show what the pupil will observe in set-
up A and set-up B
b) Explain the observations in set set-up A and set-up B
c) What is the aim of set-up A?
d) What is the aim of set-up B?

ANSWER
a) Labeled diagrams
b) Set-up A---the pressure of the water coming out of the lower hole is higher
than the one at the top.
Set-up Bthe pressure of water coming out of holes are the same because
they are at the same level

AIM

c) Set-upto show that pressure increases with depth in a liquid

d) Set-upto show that pressure at the same point or level in a liquid is the
same.

8. Fig. 1 shows the three dimensional faces of B, C, and D of a rectangular

block of wood. The block is weighed using a spring balance as shown in
fig.2. Use the diagrams to answer the questions which follow.
a) i. measure and record the length x, y and z in centimetres(cm)
ii calculate the area B and C
b) i. read and record the mass, m of the wood in kilograms

ii.calculate the weight, W of the wood (g= 10ms2)

c) calculate the pressureexerted by the wood in Ncm-2 at the surface

marked B and C.

ANSWER
a) i)

ii)

b) i)the mass of wood m= 15kg

 ii)weigh of wood
c) pressure at B = =
pressure at C
9. use the diagram below to answer the questions that follow.

CHEMISTRY
1. the diagram below shows the structure of an atom. Study the diagram
carfully and use it to answer the questions that follow.

i) identify the parts labelled I, II, III and IV

ii)how many electrons are in the atom?

iii)state the atomic number of the atom

iv)state two differences between protons and electrons

ANSWER

I)electron

II)shell
III)neutron

IV)nucleus

ii)number of electrons= 3

iii)the atomic number = 3

iv)proton has positive charge

proton has a mass of 1a.m.u

electron has a negative charge

electron has a negligible mass number

2. in an experiment, a student took three iron nails and cleaned their surfaces
dry and placed them in three separate test tubes in the set-ups A, B and C
shown in the following diagram. After three days the nail in set-up A was
found to have rusted while the nails in the set-ups B and C did not.
 Answer the following
a) why was the water in the set-up B boiled?
b) Explain the function of the oil on top of the water in set-up B
c) State the purpose of the rubber stopper in the set-up C
d) Why did the nail in the set-up rust?
e) Suggest an aim for the experiment
f) Explain why oil or gease is applied on the surface of a metal to rusting

ANSWER

a) To remove air or oxygen

b) To prevent air or oxygen from dissolving back into the water
c) To prevent water or moisture from entering the test tube
d) Because oxygen or air and water were present
e) To show that air or oxygen and water are necessary for rusting
f) Oil prevents air from coming into contact with the metal for rusting

3. In an experiment to investigate the reactivity of zinc, a piece of the metal

was droped into a test tube coantaining dilute hydrochloric acid. The
experimental set-up is illustrated below.
 a) Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction that occurred in the
experiment
b) Name the gas involved
c) List two metals which cannot react in a similar way as zinc
d) List two metals which cannot react in similar way as the zinc
e) Name two glass apparatus which could have been used instead of the
test tube

ANSWER

a)
b) Hydrogen gas
c) Magnesium, sodium,lithium and iron
d) Gold, platinum and silver
e) Beaker, round bottled flask, conical flask

The following figure is an illustration of a set-up used in a school labolatory

to separate the components of a suspension. Study the figure care carefully
answer the folowing questions
a. Name parts I to vII
b. State one function each of the parts V,VII and VIII
c. Name two materials that can be used for part labelled v
d. Give one exmaple of a suspension whose components can be separated
with the set-up
e. State one precaution that should be taken during the experiment

ANSWER
a. I beaker
II mixture/suspension
III funnel
IV residue
V filter paper
VI filtrate
VII retort stand
VIII stirring rod

b. V to separates components
VII holds funnel in position
VIII direct the mixture into the filter paper
c. Silk cotton, foam, cotton wool
 d. Chalk dust in water, sulphur in water, soil in water
e. Funnel should be well plugged to prevent insoluble particles from
entering the filtrate
4. The set-up below was used by a student to separate a solid-solid mixture.
Use it to answer the questions that follow.

a) Name the parts I,II and III

b) What is the method of separation used by the student
c) Mention two substances that can sublime
d) Mention one mixture that can be separated by the method above
e) State three factors that affect the rate at which a solute disolves in a
solvent.
ANSWER
a. I inverted funnel
II iodine crystal
III evaporating dish
b. Sublimation
c. Iodine crystal, naphthalene
d. I a mixture of sand and iodine crystal
II a mixture of sand and naphthalene
e. Particle size, temperature and stirring
5. The diagram below shows the set -up of how a mixture was separated in
the laboratory. Use it to answer the questions that follow.

a. Name parts I to VII

b. What method of separation is used in the set-up?
c. State the function of part III
d. Which of the liquid in the mixture is separated first and why?
e. State two applications of the above method of separation

ANSWER
a. I thermometer
II water outlet
III water jacket
 IV water
V water inlet
VI liquid distillate
VII distillation flask
b. Distillation
c. It cools the vapour and condenses it to liquid
d. Alcohol, because it has a lower boiling point than water
e. It used in water purification
It is used in separating the components of crude oil

6. In an experiment, equal volumes of dilute hydrochloric acid (solution A) and

dilute sodium hydroxide (solution B) are mixed together to form solution C.
Study the diagram below carefully and answer the questions that follow.
a. What is the volume of solution C
b. Red litmus paper and blue litmus paper are dipped in turns into solutions A,
B and C. state the observations you will make in all six cases
c. Give the name of the reaction that took place between the solution A and
solution B
d. Identify solution C
e. State what will happen when solution C is heated

Answer
a. Volume C= volume of solution A + Volume of solution B = 20cc+20cc= 40cc
b.

solution Red litmus Blue litmus

A No change in colour Turns red
B Turns blue No change in colour
C No change in colour No change in colour

c. Neutralization reaction
d. NaCl solution or salt solution or brine
e. Common salt is formed

7. The diagram below shows the set-up of an experiment in which a student

added some quantity of hydroxide solution of the same concentration.
a. Name the parts labeled I, II, III and IV
b. Mention one instrument that could be used to transfer the sodium
hydroxide solution into II
c. What is the name of the reaction that occurred between dilute
hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide solution?
d. What is the name of the compound that would be left in an evaporating
dish if the liquid mixture III is heated

ANSWER
a. I burette
II conical flask
III sodium hydroxide solution
IV retort stand
b. Measuring cylinder, pipette
c. Neutralization reaction
d. Sodium chloride(NaCl)
 AGRICULTURE

1.
a. Identify each of the tools
b. State one use each the tools
c. Name the parts labeled I,II and III
d. State three ways of maintaining tool E
e. State three precautions that must be taken when using tool B

ANSWER
a. A watering can
B knapsack sprayer
C hand fork
D wheel barrow
E hoe
F hand trowel
 G garden shears
H sickle

b. Uses
Tools uses
A For watering crops
B For spraying chemicals on crops
C For stirring the soil
D For transporting farm tools and
produce
E For weeding
F For transplanting
G For trimming hedges
H For harvesting rice

c. I handle
II tank
III blade

d. 1. Wash soil particles from food

2.metal parts should be oiled

3. blades should be sharpened when blunted

e. 1 wear protective clothing

2.do not spray in windy environment

3.wear eye glasses and respirators

 a. Name each of the equipment labeled A, B,C, and E
b. State one use of each of the tool above

ANSWER
a. A garden peg
B tape measure
C cross-staff
D garden line
E ranging pole
b. Uses
tool uses
A Marking planting distances
B Measuring distances
C Constructing right angles at corners
of plot
D Marking out plots
E Sighting survey stations

2. Below is a diagram of a crop pest. Use it to answer the questions that

follow.

a. Name the crop pest

b. List four crops which are attacked by the crop pest
 c. State three methods of controlling the crop pest.

ANSWER
a. Rat or mouse
b. Yam, cassava,maize, rice, groundnut
c. Weed control
Early harvesting
Rodenticides
3. Study the organism illustrated below, and answer the questions that follow

a. Name the organism illustrated

b. Name two farm animals that are affected by the organism
c. In which part of the body of the farm animal is the organism found
d. List two effects of the organism on farm animals

ANSWER
a. Tape worm
b. Pigs, goat, sheep, cattle, poultry
c. Small intestine
d. Leads to anaemia
diarrhoea